Photographic processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between two sheets of material including a pair of spreader members defining a pressure generating gap through which the sheet materials are movable. A plastic member is mounted on one of the spreader members and adapted to exert a resilient force against one such sheet of material in advance of the gap to present a weir to the flow of the processing fluid between the sheets in the direction away from the gap.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Patrick L. Finelli 3,241,468 3/1966 Wolff 95/13 Sudbury, Mas. 3.452,66l 7/1969 Eloranta l. 95/l3 I p 3 9 Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews {22] F'led d 7 Assistant ExaminerFred L. Braun [45] Patients y Attorneys-Brown and Mikulka, William D. Roberson and [73] Assignee Polaroid Corporation Leonard S Selma" Cambridge, Mass. v

[54] PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS u i Drawing Flgs' ABSTRACT: A photographic apparatus for spreading a U-S. processing in a layer between two heets of material in- 95/89 eluding a pair of spreader members defining a pressure [5 Int. generating gap through the heet materials are mo a. [50] Field ofSearch 95/13, 89 A plastic member is mounted on one of the preader members and adapted to exert a resilient force against one [56] References and such sheet of material in advance of the gap to present a weir UNITED STATES PATENTS to the flow of the processing fluid between the sheets in the 2,991,703 7/1961 Eloranta 95/13 direction away from the gap.

PATENIEU JUL 6 l9?! FIGI PATENTEU JUL '6 mm 3590 I 7 O8 sum 3 [1F 3 INVENTOR. Mg g @M (Y; YM U BY W Q5 W F l G. 6 ATTOR zEYS PHOTOGRAPI-IIC PROCESSING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The processing apparatus of the present invention is related to the subject matter disclosed in copending US. Pat. applications Ser. No. 655,831, filed July 25, I967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,155; Ser. No. 655,832, fiIed'JuIy 25, 1967, now US.

7 Pat. No. 3,449,373; Ser. No. 655,833, filed July 25, l967,now

U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,850; Ser. No. 655,834 filed July 25, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,452,661; Ser. No. 655,835, filed July 25, 687,183, now US. Pat. No. 3,498,196; Ser. No. 687,183, filed Dec. I, I967; and Ser. No. 7l4,690 filed March 20, I968, all assigned to the assignee of the present application.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In many of the self-developing cameras in use today, the film unit used therein comprises an image-recording or negative sheet which is exposed through the camera lens, an imagereceiving or positive sheet which receives the final picture image by means of diffusion transfer and a pod containing processing fluid which upon rupture of the pod is spread between the positive and negative sheets to facilitate the transfer of the picture image to the positive sheet. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,079,849 and 3,IOI,5l6, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention, illustrate this type of film unit, a film unit ordinarily enclosed in a film pack commercially designated as Types I07 and I08 by the manufacturer, Polaroid Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts. To rupture the pod and spread the processing liquid between the sheets, certain spreader means are provided comprising a pair of jux-.

taposed members having a narrow gap between them through which the film unit is manually drawn.

When the film units are manually drawn through the narrow gap, the speed of the movement of the film unit through the spreader means depends upon the pull force and the manner in which the pull force is applied by the user. Although the user is instructed to apply moderate pull force in a manner which will result in medium speed movement of the film unit from the film chamber, some persons either ignoring or forgetting the instruction nevertheless pull the film out of the film chamber at quite a high rate of speed. While theresulting photograph will be quite satisfactory inmost respects and for ordinary snapshot use, a series of tiny white spots may appear in the picture area, especially near the edge of the picture nearest the pod which contained the processing fluid. The tiny white spots in the picture area appear to be the result of the inability of the image to transfer in these areas from the negative to the positive receiving sheet due to voids between the sheets at these areas. The voids are believed to be caused by tiny bubbles of entrapped air.

The chief cause of these bubbles appears to be the turbulence which occurs in the processing liquid especially as it bursts from the pod during the initial stages of the movement of the film unit through the narrow gap between the spreader members. Before the pod bursts, the liquid inside tends to distend the pod while building up pressure until finally the seal on the pod is broken and the liquid is suddenly released. As the liquid is released, it is in a state of turbulence and this erratic flow tends to form tiny bubbles from the air present in and around the pod which bubbles become entrapped between the sheets. A moderately slow, steady movement of the film sheets through the spreader members tends to allow these bubbles to be eliminated in the course of the movement of the processing fluid as it is spread evenly between the sheets. However, very fast movement of the film sheets through the spreader members can cause these bubbles to be entrapped, producing the aforementioned voids preventing image transfer and causing the tiny white spots on the final picture.

The present invention is directed to a means for reducing the turbulence in the processing fluid. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an element which cooperates with a particular spreader apparatus to achieve the desired results. The spreader apparatus includes a pair of sheet metal spreader members bent precisely to form a pair of small radius edge means having a precisely defined gap therebetween. A pair of facing surfaces on the spreader members converge angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide the photographic sheets toward the narrow gap. One of the facing surfaces has a cutout portion which is bent away to form a relief therein just before the gap. The sheet metal spreader members are permanently joined to a pair of springs which serve the dual function of supporting the spreader members in exactly aligned juxtaposed relation to one another and to further urge said spreader members toward each other. The turbulence reducing means is mounted on the spreader apparatus directly opposite the edge portion of the facing surface outlining the relief in a position before the narrow gap in the direction of the movement of the film unit therethrough. It comprises a film engaging spring portion which may be made of a plastic material and which bears on one of the film sheets tending to hold the film sheets together as the processing liquid containing pod is distended and finally bursts between the sheets. The spring portion acting through the sheet tends to act as a weir or obstruction in the path of flow of the processing liquid and the liquid passing over it loses some velocity, thus reducing turbulence. The meniscus or leading edge of the fluid is also confined to some degree, keeping the pod from bursting violently and sending trails of liquid between the sheets. Thus, this simple element greatly aids the uniform spreading of the processing liquid between the photographic film sheets.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved spreading apparatus capable of being mounted on photographic apparatus, such as a camera in position to spread a processing liquid in a uniform layer of predetermined thickness covering the entire picture area of a pair of positive and negative film sheets.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for reducing the turbulence in the processing liquid as it is spread between the film sheets thereby preventing entrapped air from causing voids between the pair of film sheets.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a camera having mounted within and shown in cross section, the apparatus embodying the preferred embodiment of the invention including the spring mounted sheet metal spreader members having a gap therebetween through which the photographic sheets may be drawn;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the processing apparatus shown removed from a camera;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the film advanced in its movement through the narrow gap between the spreader members;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the turbulence reducing means removed from the processing apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the processing apparatus showing the gap between the spreader members and the turbulence reducing means mounted on one of the spreader members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the processing apparatus 10 is shown mounted in operable position inside a photographic camera. The film units 11 as shown in FIG. 1 are in processing position mounted on spreaderinemb'etj 20 ready to be removed from the camera. US. Pat. No. 2,99l,702 shows a plurality of such film units stacked in a film pack as they are used in many of the present day self-developing cameras. ln picture-taking position, the negative sheet 12 with its photosensitive surface faces the open front of the film pack as well as the picture-taking lens and then is pulled around and on top of the positive image-receiving sheet 14 by detachable tab 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in superposed position ready for processing. Tab 16 pulls the leader [8 through the narrow gap 19 between the sheet metal spreader members 20 and 22 which are supported and biased toward one another by spring members 24 and 26. The leader 18 is then manually grasped and the film unit, including the negative sheet 12, the positive sheet 14 and the processing .liquid containing pod 28, is pulled through the gap whereby the pod seal is broken and the processing liquid 30 is spread between the positive and nega tive sheets,

FlG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the processing apparatus removed from the camera illustrating features of the apparatus which are the subject of the aforementioned applications, including the spring separating means 32, the spring restraining means 34, the platform relief 36 and the edge control means 38. Also mounted on spreader member 20, there is shown in FIG. 2, the turbulence reducing means 40 which is positioned adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members 20 and 22. v I FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows clearly and in more detail the turbulence reducing means 40 mounted on the processing apparatus. The means 40 in the preferred embodiment comprises a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasably connecting portion 42 engageable with spreader member 20 and being mounted on facing surface 43 directly opposite the front edge portion 45 outlining relief 36 on the opposing facing surface 47. The pair of facing surfaces 43 and 47 converge angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide the photographic sheets toward the narrow gap between the spreader members 20 and 22. One of the facing surfaces 47 h as a portion which is cut out on three sides and bent away to form relief 36 just before the gap. An opening 44 is formed in the center of the molded means 40 as showngin FIG. and a tongue portion 46 is provided which slipsiunder the edge control means 38 also The tongue portion shown also in FIG. 4 serves to rel sably connect the turbulent reducing means 40 with the spreader'nie mber 20. The tongue is flexible enough to enable it to be pushed under the edge control means by a special tool when assembling the entire spreader apparatus. Likewise, the tongue 46 may be pried out from under the edge control means when replacement is desired. A film engaging spring portion 48 as shown from the rear in FIG. 6 extends from means 40 intothe path of movement of the film units through the narrow gap l9 between the spreader members and 22. i

As shown in cross section in FIG. 4, the film engaging spring portion 48 is positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap 19 directly above the front edge portion 45 of relief 36 so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the seal, the spring portion 48 engages a portion of the extension of film sheet 12 in the vicinity of the pod and acting through said sheet and against said edge portion 45 ,acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover and thereby reduce the overall turbulence in the processing liquid 30 as it begins to be spread between the sheets. As previously pointed out, this reduction in turbulence lessens the amount of tiny air bubbles which may be formed as the processing liquid is released from the pod and thus prevents the voids which result when these bubbles are entrapped between the film sheets ]2 and 14 causing tiny white spots in the final picture.

The turbulence reducing means 40 is preferably made of a relatively soft plastic material such I as low density polyethylene or an elastomeric polyvinylchloride. The

thickness and resilience of the film engaging spring portion 48 is such that it engages the photographic sheet with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper weir or liquid velocity reducing means and yet be flexible enough not to place any substantial load itself on the liquid within the distended pod which might tend to unload the spring forces at the narrow gap.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

,What i claim is: Y

1.- Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable;

means for supporting said members in juxtaposed relation so that said gap is formed between them so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and

turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least oneof said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.

2. Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable;

means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposedrelation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread ina layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and

turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.

3. Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: 1

a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable;

means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting and aligning means comprising an integral selfsupporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from such camera as a unit; and

turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on one of said spreader members adjacent said narrow gap for engaging at least one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.

4. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through Y which said sheet material is movable;

means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and

turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod duringthe spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheet with a force sufficient to cause said-spring portion to act as a proper liquid-velocity reducing means'but insufficientto reduce the force exerted on said pod by, said rigid spreader members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap. 6. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, saidapparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminately spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet'material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; I

means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during'the spreading operation.

7. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquidin a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap;

means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and

turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces and comprising an element having a filmengaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it beings to be spread between the film sheets.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheets with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper weir but insufficient to reduce the force exerted on said pod by said rigid members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap.

9. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheetmaterial is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap, a first one of said facing surfaces having a relief formed therein by partially cutting out and bending away a part of said surface from the rest leaving an elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief; 7

means for supporting and aligning saidmembers in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap, the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and

turbulence reducing means mounted on a second one of said facing surfaces opposed to said first facing surface and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members and directly opposite said elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet and against said edge portion acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover, thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it begins to be spread between the film sheets.

l0. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable;

means for supporting and aligning said members juxwhich said sheet material is movable;

taposed-relation to one another so that said gap is formed means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in between them and for urging said members toward one juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is another so that as the photographic sheets are moved formed between them and for urging said members through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are between said sheets; and moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in turbulence reducing means including a unitary integral aye between id mnd ld d l i l t h i a l bl connecting turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said portion engageable with one of said spreader members to Spreader members for engaging one of Said phetograPhie facilitate its mounting thereon for engaging one of said 10 sheets to Prevent undue turbulence in the Processing photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the liquid e the liquid is released from the Pod-during the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the p lh p 'e t Said turbulence reducing means sheets during the spreadmg operation comprising a unitary integral molded plastic element havll. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer "8 a f eohheehhg P ehgageahle with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterrninedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through thereon and having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIC'ATE'CF CORRECTION Patent 3. 590. 708 Dated Julv 6. 1971 Invenwfl Patrick L. Finelli It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION:

Column 1, line 11, after "July 25" insert l9677 Column 1, line 12, delete "687, 183" (first occurrence) IN THE CLAIMS Column 5, line 60, after "sheets" insert a semicolon;

Column 6, lines 21 & 22, "beings" should be -begins-;

Column 6, line 24, "sheets" should be sheet;

Column 6, line 68, after "layer" insert -between-.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EEIZARD M.FLET( 7HI:.R,JR. ROBERT GOITSCHALK eating Officer- Commissioner of Patents FORM PC9-1050 (ID-69) USCOMM-DC scan-poo U45. GO IINIIII" IIINYING OFFICE "I! 0ll6-lll 

1. Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting said members in juxtaposed relation so that said gap is formed between them so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.
 2. Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said Supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.
 3. Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from such camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on one of said spreader members adjacent said narrow gap for engaging at least one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.
 4. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheet with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper liquid velocity reducing means but insufficient to reduce the force exerted on said pod by said rigid spreader members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap.
 6. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminately spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat tO guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.
 7. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it beings to be spread between the film sheets.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheets with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper weir but insufficient to reduce the force exerted on said pod by said rigid members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap.
 9. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap, a first one of said facing surfaces having a relief formed therein by partially cutting out and bending away a part of said surface from the rest leaving an elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap, the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on a second one of said facing surfaces opposed to said first facing surface and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader Members and directly opposite said elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet and against said edge portion acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover, thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it begins to be spread between the film sheets. l0. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means including a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasable connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation. ll. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasably connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon and having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation. 